Precautions To Be Taken While Constructing A Recharge Well
Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is the process of collecting and storing rain drops from rooftop before it reaches wet underground layer. It is a very economical process for places which have shortage of water. The water collected in apartments by RWH can be used further like drinking, watering plants, for household chores, etc. Rainwater harvesting systems are simple to construct from inexpensive local materials, and are successful in most apartments.
Rainwater harvesting system should be capable enough for holding water. Mostly during heavy rains, water overflow from the equipment. If it is not stored then it is recharged into the ground. In those cases recharge well can be used. A recharge well is used to hold water when it overflows from the system in the ground water level. It is used to refill aquifers in a process called groundwater recharge. Recharge wells are excellent source for recharging bore wells.
Precautions to be taken while constructing a recharge well
Recharge wells play an important part in topping up the groundwater table. Every house and apartment in the cityshould have one except in areas where the water table is very high. Following precautions to be taken while constructing a recharge well.
- Make sure that the recharge well is not close to any of the walls or foundations or column footings. The distance of the centre of recharge well from the footing should be at least twice the depth of the footing. Eg: If the depth of footing from the ground level is 1.5 mtr the recharge well should be at least 3 M away from the footing.
- Make sure that the recharge well is not close to the basement wall or any other underground structure. This will cause water seeping into the basement / cellar through the walls during rainy season. The centre recharge well should be at least 3 times the distance of the depth of basement.
- Make sure that the soil is not too loose while digging the recharge well. Extreme care is required while digging recharge well in loose soil. Also sufficient safety measures like shoring, safety helmets are taken care.
- Make sure to cover the recharge well properly while construction.
- Make sure to provide overflow pipe for the recharge well to avoid water logging around the recharge well in case of overflow.
- Recharge well depth can be restricted if the water table is high in the area. Do not create a recharge well if the water table is within 5 feet from the ground level.
- The Boulder packing should be done by skilled people in order to avoid caving or collapse of recharge well.
- Provide sufficient concrete / brick lining and make sure that water is not entering into the recharge well from the sides as this may lead to collapse.
